Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The JBL Go 5 ranks #24 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $39.95; the Sony ULT Field 1 ranks #81 of 144 medium speakers by sound quality at $98.
Different sizes. The Go 5 is a small 230 g speaker. The ULT Field 1 is a medium 650 g speaker with a woofer, a tweeter and a passive radiator. Each is rated within its own class, and neither leads its class on sound.
The ULT Field 1 has an upper midrange peak and rolled off treble, but real world battery of 28 hours or more with ULT mode off, a built-in microphone, IP67 and stereo pairing.
The Go 5 lacks bass and clarity and gets harsher rather than louder at maximum volume. It is IP68, has a 7-band app EQ, Auracast and a USB-C wired audio input, with 8 to 10 hours of battery.
For better sound in either size, see the small and medium rankings.
Buy the JBL Go 5 at $39.95 if you want a small speaker. Buy the Sony ULT Field 1 at $98 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Sony ULT Field 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $98.00 |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #81 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) | 1.4 lbs (650 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | AAC, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 8.1” x 3” x 3” (206 x 77 x 76 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 83mm x 42mm woofer, 16mm tweeter + passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (detachable strap) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Go 5 compares with other leading options:
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Go 4 (rated 3.2/5) and the JBL Go 3 (rated 3.2/5).
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony ULT Field 1: $98.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Sony XB23 (rated 3.3/5) and the Sony SRS-XB20 (rated 2.8/5).
Pros: IP67 rated, survives drops and 1m submersion. Real-world battery around 28+ hours with ULT (bass boost) mode off. Stereo-pairs with a second ULT Field 1.
Cons: Upper midrange peak, rolled off treble
Full Sony ULT Field 1 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.1” x 3” x 3” (206 x 77 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 83mm x 42mm woofer, 16mm tweeter + passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (650 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony ULT Field 1 vs JBL Grip
- Sony ULT Field 1 vs Treblab HD77
- Sony ULT Field 1 vs Tribit Xsound Go
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- Sony ULT Field 1 vs Tribit Xsound Surf
- Sony ULT Field 1 vs KEF Muo gen2
- Sony ULT Field 1 vs Tribit Stormbox 2
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